Over-all snap lock protector for fuel tank caps



sept. 27, 193s. A, M MALLUK 2,131,060

OVER-,ALL SNAP -Loox PROTECTOR FOR FEL TANK cA=s Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 1` l Buc/g J;

y ATTORNEY 1 Sept. 27, 1938. A. M. MALLUK 2,131,060 OVER-ALL SNAP LOCK PROTECTOR vFOR FUEL TANK OAPS Filed Aug. l1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27, 1938 I- f UNITED STATES VER-ALL SNAP LOCK `PROTECTOR{ FORv FUEL TANK CAPS Assad M. Mauak, New York, N. Y. Application August 11, 193s, serial No. 95,314

5 Claims.

The present invention relates toa snap lock for applicationto the filling necks of tanks for fluids, particularly, but not restricted to, the filling necks of automobile fuel tanks. A number of ldifferent forms of filling neck locking caps have been proposed including a cap per se carried by a cover member so designed that when the cap element is latched toI the neck, as by spring dogs placed through openings in the neck flange and held when the cap is rotated a slight distance, it can be unlocked from the cap and freely rotated so that it is impossible to move the cap until a key is inserted and the cover member and cap locked together. Thereupon rotation of the cover member will carry with it the cap element and the two elements thus held firmly together can be removed from the filling neck.

The object of the present invention is to provide an over-all snap lock adaptable for the freely removable filler neck caps in universal use, so that the device can be applied to any filling neck closed by a cap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and strong over-all snap lock for lling the necks of fluid containing tanks which is applied, when unlocked and in place over the ller neck opening, by moving a lateral wall of the device into snap engagement with a latch, the latch being key-operated for releasing the device. v

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of anembodiment of the invention applied to the top of a fuel tank, a fragment of the latter being shown.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device, partly broken away.Y

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary and venlarged section on the line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective View of the latch member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the structure. n

YFigure 7 is a perspective view of a further modification of the structure.

Figure 8`is a plan view of the two'elements shown Vin Figure 7, separated and partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings, I have indicated in Figures 1 and 7, a fragment of the upper portion of a liquid containing tank indicated at I and having the annular vertically extending fill- Y ing vneck 2 to which has been applied a closure cap 3 of customary form. In practice, this cap is frictionally held on the neck 2 although in some cases it may be threaded thereon.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1` to 4 inclusive, the overall snap lock protector comprises an annular top member 4 with which is cast a vertically extending neck 5 apertured to receive the rotary lock member 6 adapted to receive a key as indicateed at 1, Figure 1.

The rotary lock member 6 carries a depending stud 6a: which enters a cam aperture 8:1: in a` sliding latch member 8. The latch Vmember is held against the'inner wall of annular top member 4 by meanspof a three-legged spring'plate 9 secured in position by meansl of the screws IIJ.

A recess may be formed in member 4 as indicated by the dotted lines at I I, Figure 2, Aand the full lines Il, Figure 3, for the rear end of sliding latch member 8. The sliding latch member carries an upwardly projected stud I2l engaged by a spring I3 having one end fixed to a pin I4 (Figure 2) secured to top mem-ber 4 by means' of whichl the latching slide member is normally held in outward projected position. At its outer end the latching slide carries a latch hook 8x1;

Depending from top membery 4 is a half-round vertical side member I5 and hinged to the side member is the movable half-round side member I6. Each of the side members I5, I6, is formed with an inwardly projected horizontal fiange f so as to normally lie under the cap 3. In the present instance, the hinge is formed by a plurality of spaced lips a carried by each of the side members I5, I 6, so spaced that the lipsv of one member Vlie within the spaces provided between the lips of the other member, the lips being apertured to receive the hinge pin I'I which is tightly fitted within an aperture formed in member 4 as more particularly shown in FigureA 3.

Movable side member I6 is formed with an inwardly projected shoulder IBx adapted to be engaged by thelatch hook of,` sliding latch member 8. Y

The device is applied to the-filling neck'cap of the liquid containing tank by moving the top member with its depending side member I5 `laterally until the half-round ange of Vmember ,I5 lies under the cap 3, whereupon member I6 may be moved inwardly to bring its flange under the cap member and cause its shoulder |61: to be brought in such position that it may be snapped over the springy latch hook end of member 8.

When key 'I is turned the pin 6a: which is positioned eccentrically of member 6 will act upon the cam slot 8m to retract the latching slide, and movable wall member I6 may be swung to the position shown in Figure 1, thus releasing the device. The free end of movable wall I6 may carry a stud I8 to enter socket I9 (Figure 4), if desired.

In the structure of Figure 6, the latching slide of the member which it engages and also the hinge construction and the half-round side wall construction is the same as that in the preceding gures and the same numerals are indicated for these parts. The difference in construction is that side wall I6 carries part of the top wall as indicated at 20, the side wall I5 carrying the remaining part of the top wall shown at 2|, and the inner margin of top wall member 20 is reduced in height to form a shallow lip 2Il merging with a shallow lip 22 carried by side wall I6, the latter lip fitting under side wall I5 and lip 20 tting under top wall 2I so as to form a water-tight connection at these points.

j In the structure of Figures 7 and 8, the device comprises two halves, each having arhalf-round top wall 23, 231', and depending side walls 24, 24a. Side wall 24:1: carries at one end a hook 25 adapted to enter a hookedshaped aperture at 26 in side wall 24.H The end *ofv side wall 24 opposite hook 25 with a latching boss 21 having a shoulder latch recess at 28 adapted to receive latch hook 29 carried by a `key-operated barrel 30, Figure 7, the barrel having a key slot at 3l by which the barrel can be rotated so thatwhen the two halves are placed together over `upon a closure cap such as 3, Figure 1, the cap cannotv be rotated, inasmuch as the protector will cover the same and its free rotation will prevent low friction rotation of the cap.

Y If desired, either one of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings will carry ball bearings for light frictionless engagement with side wall of the cap 3, and in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown the side walls I5, I6, formed with inwardly projecting bosses 32 carrying ball bearings 33. Y

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, Vis as follows:

1. An over-all protector for the filling necks of tanks for fluids, comprising a closure member having a top wall and an upwardly projected neck, an integral vertical semi-annular side wall and an inwardly projected flange carried by said side wall at its base, a rotatable key actuated barrel insaid neck of the closure member, a latch slide operatively connected to the barrel at the underface of said top wall, and a second closure member having a hinge connection with the first member, said second -closure member comprising a semi-annular vertical wall carrying an inwardly projected flange at its base, said side wall having a latchreceiving element adapted to be engaged by said latch slide.`

2. An over-all protector for the lling necks of tanks for huids, comprising a closure member having a top wall formed with an upwardly projected neck, a key-operated rotatable barrel carried within said neckfof the closure member, a

side wall, an inwardly projected flange carried by said side wall, a latch slide formed with a cam aperture, a stud carried by the barrel and entering said aperture, a prong retaining spring V.secured to the underface of the topwall and supporting the' slide, a second closure member hinged to the rst member, said second closure member formed as a ring section with an inwardly projected horizontal flange at its base, the ring section having a latch receiving element adapted to be engaged by said latch slide, the ring element being movable to a position under lthe top wall of the first-named closure member.

3. An over-all protector for the filling necks of tanks for fluids, comprising a closure member having a top wall formed as an annular plate, formed with an axial upwardly projected neck and a semi-annular depending side wall carrying an inwardly projected flange at its base, a keyoperated rotatable barrel in said neck of the closure member, a latch slide at the base of the cap and having a cam opening, a stud carried by the barrel and entering said cam opening, a spring engaging the latch slide for imparting endwise movement thereto, a latch hook carried at one end of the slide, and a second closure member formed as a ring section having a latch receiving element adapted to be engaged by said latch hook, and interengaging connecting means carried by the closure members opposite said latch hook. j

4. An over-all protector for the llingfopenings of tanks for uids, comprising a closure member having a top wall, an integral vertical semi-annular side wall and an inwardly projecting flange carried by said side wall, a latch carried by said closure member and normally projected near one' edge of the semi-annular vertical wall, the second closure member movable relativelyto the rst member, saidv second'closure member having a semi-annular vertical side wall carrying an inwardly projected flange, its sidewall having av latch receiving elementl adapted to be engaged by said latch, means for operating'said latch, inter-engaging connectingmeans carried by the closure membersopposite said latch receiving element, andV anti-friction members carried by thevertical side walls of the two closure members. y'

5. An over-all protector for the filling necks of tanks for iluids, comprising a primary closure member having a vertical semi-'annular side wall and an inwardly projected ilange carried by said side wall, a latch member carried by said closure member, 'a' second closure member movable relatively to the first member, said second closuremember having a semi-annular vertical side wall complementary to therst named side wall to complete an annulus,a latch receiving element adapted to be engaged by said latch, a top wall carried by the primary closure member and serving as thefcover of the protector and having a semi-annular inset abutment for the side wall of the second closure member, ,which adapts s aid .top wall as an overlying water Seal member for the said secondV closure.member, means for-operating. saidflatch, and inter-engaging connecting meanscarried by the-closure 

